Taking into account the skewed sex ratio in the state, the government has decided to set up sick neo-natal care units (SNCU) in the general hospitals of all districts.

Recently, such facilities were set up in 13 districts and the remaining nine districts would be covered in near
future.

Speaking at the inauguration of the in vitro fertilisation (IVF) centre of Park Hospital on Sunday, health minister Rao Narender Singh said, “We are giving priority to the healthcare sector. With the efforts of the state government and awareness of parents, the infant mortality rate (IMR) has dropped from 61 in Haryana (2005) to 48 (2010).”

He also expressed concern over the skewed sex ratio. "We have launched a scheme to motivate the gram panchayats to come forward in improving the ratio, under which every year on Republic Day, a cash reward of Rs. 1 lakh will be given to a panchayat which stood first in the district in terms of sex ratio and Rs. 25000 to the runners-up village,” said Singh.

The SNCUs have been set up in Ambala, Bhiwani, Palwal, Panchkula, Narnaul, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Kaithal, Mewat, Yamunanagar, Hisar, Sonepat and Rohtak. The units have been equipped with ventilator and warmer. The children born in general hospitals can avail these facilities free of cost and the children born in private clinics or hospitals can also avail these facilities at the SNCU.

Doctors and nurses would be available round-the-clock in SNCU and medicines will be provided free of cost.